DNA testing may have become standard practice on ITV’s notorious Jeremy Kyle Show, but in reality the cuts in funding for legal aid, which came into force in 2013, resulted in extended and often acrimonious court cases when parents could not afford to take DNA tests. The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service…
While it’s true that infidelity puts a great strain on any marriage or partnership, the Office of National Statistics has just released some interesting figures which show that financial problems or even long working hours are much more likely to be a ‘deal breaker’ in a relationship than by either partner having an affair. Although…
The Citizens Advice Bureau published a report about victims of domestic violence, showing that many are still struggling to get help and support despite successive governments’ assurances of their commitment to addressing this nationwide problem. The report is based on a survey of frontline CAB staff and although national data shows that approximately 13,000 people…
Yet another landmark court case hit the news this week when it was announced by five Supreme Court judges that the ex-wife of multi-millionaire green energy supremo Dale Vince is entitled to make a financial claim against her ex husband even though they divorced 20 years ago, before he had even started his hugely successful…
The concept of generous spousal maintenance in divorce cases was turned on its head when Appeal Court Judge Lord Justice Pitchford ruled in favour of a millionaire race horse surgeon, Ian Malcolm Wright, who won his case against giving his ex wife Tracey maintenance for life. Since their divorce 11 years ago, Mrs Wright had…
Last week the Supreme Court found that a financial application made by a former wife could be heard over 20 years after the original divorce. The case went before the Supreme Court on 11 March, where five Supreme Court Judges ruled unanimously that Ms Kathleen Wyatt’s financial claim against her former husband, Dale Vince, should…
A letter in the Sunday Times from Jo Edwards, Chairwoman of Resolution, has sparked a debate about the importance of putting the needs of children first when their parents are going through a divorce or separation. Resolution, a national group of 6500 family justice professionals has recently launched a parenting charter addressing the needs of…
Divorce is never an easy option and takes an emotional toll on couples and their families, especially where children are involved. Dividing up the marital spoils can be stressful and never more so than when a wealthy couple head for the divorce courts. Often, the wife has been in the background as the stay at…
The widely publicised recent case of Rebecca Minnock, the young mum who went on the run with her young son when his father was given primary care by a court judge has probably worried a lot of parents who may be in the process of separating from or divorcing their partner. In recent years most…
As summer is fast approaching, many parents will be looking forward to their holidays abroad with their children. In the case of separated parents however, this is one area which causes many issues and disputes, with some cases even leading to Court proceedings. In the case of separated parents, if a parent decides to take…